Motor-compressor unit



C. C. COULSON MOTOR-COMPRESSOR UNIT Filed Nov. 2'7, 1944 May 6, 1947.

4 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor May 6, 1947. v c c COULSQN 2,420,124

MOTOR- COMPRESSOR UNIT Filed Nov. 27, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor 15 I WWW 3%;

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MOTOR-COMPRESSOR UNIT Filed Nov. 27, 1944 4 SheetsSheet 5 I Inventor 6/ 94)?! [5 [HILTON (00L 50M,

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' MOTOR-COMPRESSOR UNIT Filed Nov. 27, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 6, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOTOR-COMPRESSOR UNIT Charles ,Chilton Coulson, Mobile, Ala.

Application November 27, 1944, Serial No. 565,394

(Cl..230rr13.9)

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved motorcompressor unit, and has more particular reference to a combined rotary electric motor and rotary gas compressor which is of compact and unitary construction.

An important object of the invention is to provide a unit of the above kind in which the armature of the motor forms part of the rotary cylinder of the compressor.

Another object of the invention is to provide aunit of the above character in which the :compressor includes a rotary eccentric piston and a radial vane or abutment slidably engaged in the piston and carried by the combined armature and compressor cylinder so as to provide a driving connection between the latter and said piston that permits radial movement of the piston relative to the combinedar-mature and compressorcylinder as the latter rotates.

Another important object of the present invention is :to provide a unit of the above kind in which the parts are mounted within a hermetically sealed casing soas to provide a comparatively compact, small and efiicient unit particularly adapted for use in connection with the refri gerating systems of electrical household and like refrigerators.

Still another object of the invention is to pro.- vide a unit of theabovekind whichischaracterized by ,a compact and well balanced construction capable of operating efiicientlyoveran extendedperiod of time without requiring attention or repair, and in which the lubriating qualities of the gas being compressed are utilized for lubricating the wearing surfaces of the unit by admitting the gas to be compressed within the casing of the unit.

Otherobjects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description when considered inconnection with .the ,accompanying drawings, and the invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinaftermore fully described, shown in the drawings andclaimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a combined motor and compressor unit constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is acentral vertical section'takensub- .stantially on line .33 of Figure :2.

Figure sis a.horizontalgsectiontakenrsubstantiallymnline. .4 l of Figure 3.

Fi u e 5 is a hor zontal se tion ta en ubs antially on line 15.. 5 .of Figure ,3.

Figure 6 is a perspective View of the eceentric member or sleeve forming partof the motor-gems Pre se un t shown n F ures 1 t inc us ve. and

Fi u e 7 i a per p t ve y ew show n i assembled relation the ma n spindle or shaft of the unit, the eccentric member, the rotary p i ston, and the sliding abutment or vane.

Re e in in detail t he drawin s-th pre ent motorcompressor unit isillustrated asembodying a e me a y se l d cas n .cempo e e pe intermediate and IOWQ sections-5, 6 and-l, respectivel sai se s be n vd a n and ewrediesethe n cont ous e tion byineen of a D111- r l y re ol t a .m ibe se ure $01 1 lowe section 1 and exten e th ou h the eetien fi and 1'6 with nuts 9 threaded on their upper project n en a t may b emn e b w en th s ct onsas at I1 t e i ct rti t j ints ghe- .twe n t em when ti tly d awn :tes th ,A uni o m y space po nts th se t o s an 1 re pr vid d wi h i na th en d o tion a threu li'w ic thebolt ;e te .a d h ehpre: vide opp sed shou der l b tween wh h .i clampedmarginal portions of an annularlamiated motor field member 12. {Tl/afield is .thus efiectirely suppo t d bet ee th t a d etof t e casin endli ds etiener with the latter.

The unit further includes ,a rotary gas cornpressorthat embodies a combined armature mpressor cylinder, Whicheyli de in l des end ,or top and :bottom discs :l 3 whose marginal .portions are bolted at b to and 1 against the sides .pf

a laminated armature member i i which-is arranged t revolve Withi an i 6. .0. mmi to thefield member 1.2- The l inate fi d an armaturemembers are suitably wired so as topro- ,vide anelectric motor-ofthe induction type,:Q lrrent being supplied to the fie1 d through wires of a cable i5 that preferably extends into the casing through the top of the latter.

Asupporting shaft or spindle {I5 is provided centrally of ,the casing and snugly extends through :an opening provided at H in the top wallofgcasing sectiong5. Theupperend of shaft or spindle It may be provided :with anexternal annular flange 1,8 that is bolted to the casing section 5, .as-at L9, so that the shaft .or spindle is securely mounted in place and held stationary ,with:the casing. The lowervsection 1 of the casing -has;a. centralibearing socket :26 within which :is fitted. a bearing sleeve 2! that rotatably re ceives a central depending hollow shaft 22 formed on the lower disc I3. A thrust ball bearing 23 is seated in a recess 24 centrally of the bottom of the bearing socket 20 and. contacts the lower end of the shaft 22 so as to provide a thrust bearing therefor. A cylindrical hub 25 is formed on and projects centrally and upwardly from the upper disc I3, and fitted in this hub is a bearing sleeve 26 carried by the shaft or spindle I6. The combined armature and compressor cylinder is thus effectively supported and journaled in position Within the casing and concentrically of the field member I2, the lower end of shaft I6 being reduced, as at 21, and rotatably receiving the hollow shaft 22.

The compressor further includes a tubular cylindrical rotary piston 28 that rotatably fits an eccentric member or sleeve 29 carried by and preferably made separate from and secured on the shaft or spindle I6 between the discs I3. A crescent-shaped compression chamber 30 is thus had at all times between the armature and compressor cylinder and the piston 28, as shown in Figure -5. The armature member I4 is provided in its inner periphery, with a transverse or vertical groove 3| which snugly receives a circular outwardly offset portion 32 of a liner sleeve 33 fitted and secured within the armature member I4, This liner sleeve 33 provides a smooth unbroken surface for engagement with the piston 28, and pivoted within the offset portion 32 of the sleeve 33 is the thickened rounded outer edge portion 34 of an abutment or vane 35 that is slidably received in a radial slot 36 provided in the piston 28. The vane 35 is thus allowed slight angular movement relative to the combined armature and compressor cylinder as may be necessary to avoid binding when the unit is in operation. The Vane 35 provides a driving connection between the combined armature and compressor cylinder and the piston 28 so that the same will rotate in unison, the field of the motor, as well as the shaft or spindle I 6 and its eccentric member 29, remaining stationary. It is to be understood, however, that the piston 28 is not tightly clamped between the plates I3, but is permitted to move radially relative to said plates I3 although having flat and snug contact with the latter. At one side of the slot 36, the piston 26 is provided with a substantially radial passage 31 that extends entirely through the same and communicates with the bore thereof. In the same plane as the passage 31, the eccentric member 29 is provided with a circumferential groove 38 that extends substantially entirely around said eccentric member and substantially constantly communicates with the passage 31. A port or opening 33 extends through the eccentric member 29 and shaft I6 and opens into the groove 38 near one end of the latter. The inner end of the port or passage 39 communicates with an axial passage 40 provided in the shaft I6 and opening through the upper end of the latter. The upper disc I3 is provided with an inlet port 4I therethrough that is arranged to admit the gas to be compressed into the chamber 30 between the sleeve 33 and piston 28. A scoop 42 is provided on the outside of the upper disc I3 and over the port 4I, said scoop opening at one end in the direction of rotation of the combined armature and compressor cylinder so as to scoop the gas and direct it into and through the port II when the unit is in operation. The gas is admitted into the upper portion of the casing by means of a pipe 43, and a discharge pipe 44 is connected 4 to the upper end of shaft I6 in communication with its axial passage 40.

In operation, current is supplied to the field of the motor so as to cause rotation of the combined armature and compressor cylinder in a manner well known in the electric motor art in so far as the electrical vprinciple is concerned. The piston 28 is caused to rotate with the combined armature and compressor cylinder and as they turn in unison relative to the field of the motor and the shaft I6 with its eccentric member 29, the piston 28 is shifted radially to move the portion of the piston adjacent its slot 36 toward the field of the motor adjacent the point where the vane 35 is pivoted. As this takes place, the abutment or vane 35 enters further into the slot 36, and the gas which has been drawn into the chamber 30 through the port 4! from the casing of the unit is compressed and forced through ports and passages 31, 39 and 40 out through the pipe H. As the parts continue to rotate, a reverse action takes place so that another charge of gas is drawn into the chamber 36, and this cycle of operation is repeated as the unit continues to operate.

The present unit is ideally adapted for use in connection with the refrigerating systems of electrical household refrigerators and the like, the pipe 44 being connected with the inlet of the refrigerating coils, and the gas returning through pipe 43 to the casing of the unit for being compressed again after having expanded in the refrigerating system. The unit is exceedingly small and compact so that it will require little space. Also, the lubricating qualities of the gas admitted into the casing of the unit may be utilized for lubricating the wearing part of the unit. As the construction is simple, well balanced and durable, it will continue to operate satisfactorily over an extended period of time without any repair or attention, thus making the unit especially adaptable for that type in which the casing of the unit is hermetically sealed. The armature of the motor and the piston of the compressor have a common supporting shaft, and a rotating assembly is constructed to provide both the armature of the motor and the cylinder of the compressor. This is a decided improvement over prior constructions which embody separate motor and compressor units, with driving connections between the individual units.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and operation, as well a the advantages of the present invention, will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. It will be evident that the invention is susceptible of modifications and various changes in details of construction illustrated and described such as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a motor-compressor unit, a vertical cylindrical hermetically sealed casing, a horizontal electric motor field secured in said casing adjacent the peripheral wall of the latter, a supporting shaft disposed axially of said casing and said field, the upper end of said shaft extending through the top wall of said casing and having a flange on its upper end secured to said top wall, a bearing socket on the bottom wall of said casing, a combined armature and compressor cylinder arranged within said field and including an annular laminated armature member and top and bottom discs secured against the top and bottom sides of said armature member, said shaft having an eccentric member abutted at its ends by said discs, said discs being centrally journaled on said shaft above and below the eccentric member, the bottom disc having a central depending hollow stub shaft receiving the lower end of the supporting shaft and received in said bearing socket, radial and thrust bearing elements between said bearing socket and said stub shaft, a tubular cylindrical piston rotatably fitted on the eccentric member within the armature member, and a vane carried by the arma ture member and slidable in said piston.

2. The construction defined in claim 1, wherein the armature member has a vertical groove in its inner periphery, in combination with a liner sleeve fitted in the armature member and provided with an outwardly oifset portion snugly received in said groove, the vane having a rounded outer edge portion pivotally engaged in said offset portion of the liner sleeve.

3. The construction defined in claim 1, wherein the top disc has a transverse inlet port communicating directly with the space between the armature member and the piston, an external scoop on said top disc hooding said inlet port and opening at one end in the direction of rota- 6 tion of the armature member, said supporting shaft, eccentric member and said piston having communicating passages and ports for the discharge of compressed gas from the compressor cylinder, the passage of said shaft opening through the upper end thereof, and a gas supply pipe opening within the casing at the top of the latter.

CHARLES CHILTON COULSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,223,919 Wilson Apr. 24, 1917 1,482,028 Oswald et a1 Jan. 29, 1924 1,704,240 Broom Mar. 5, 1929 2,324,434 Shore July 13, 1943 2,331,878 Wentworth Oct. 19, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 398,719 British Sept. 21, 1933 

